COMPANIES with American connections from across the region were praying none of their colleagues got caught up in the New York terrorist attack.

MBNA Europe in Chester often has visiting American managers and the chairman and chief executive General Charles Krulak, a US citizen, was visiting the company's Delaware headquarters at the time of the atrocity.

MBNA spokesman John Greaves said his boss was 'fine' but suspected he may be stuck in the USA given flights have been grounded.

In his previous career the General was commandant of the US marine corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .

He knew people killed in the attack on the Pentagon.

Mr Greaves explained that the attack was close to the hearts of people at MBNA: 'There are American people here all the time.

' I don't know how they have dealt with it. I suspect they have been phoning home.

'For us it's been a question of getting back to work and business as usual.

We have been dealing with customers in the way we normally do.

'At the same time our thoughts are with those who might be affected in some way.'

He added: 'People are dealing with this by just getting on with their work.

'Thereafter they will be looking at ways they can help.'

Mr Greaves said the US flag outside the business park premises had been flying at half mast. He said security had not noticeably increased at what was already a secure building.

A football match on Saturday involving an MBNA team in the Chester and District League had been postponed as a mark of respect.

The press officer added that MBNA's London office had been evacuated following the attack which was the case for many financial institutions in the City who wished to assess security before carrying on.

Ken Stark, company director at US-owned pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb, which has a base on Chester Business Park and at Moreton, said there had been grave concerns following the terrorist attack.

He said: 'We do have offices at Manhattan and New Jersey so it was of concern but we have had it confirmed that everybody is safe

'We have also had it confirmed that there were no employees on board the aircraft because we have had people killed on other planes in the past such as Lockerbie and the plane which was taking off from Florida at the time of the Olympic Games.

'We do know people who have relatives who are unaccounted for.'

Claire Gollicker, a spokeswoman for Vauxhall Motors at Ellesmere Port, said: 'As part of a globally operating corporation management and the workforce at Vauxhall Motors express their deepest sympathy for the victims, their families and those affected.

'As a token of solidarity production at Vauxhall Motors in Ellesmere Port, as with all General Motors' European operations, was halted at noon on Wednesday for a minute's silence.'